Key module and keyboard

Abstract

A key module and a keyboard are disclosed. The key module includes a bottom plate including a first opening; a keycap disposed on the bottom plate, and including a visible region corresponding to the first opening; a flexible component disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap, and including a second opening corresponding to the visible region; a support structure connected between the bottom plate and the flexible component, and including a third opening corresponding to the visible region; a circuit layer disposed between the bottom plate and the flexible component, and including a fourth opening corresponding to the visible region; and a pattern modulator disposed below the bottom plate, and including a pattern region corresponding to the visible region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A key module, comprising:
 a bottom plate, comprising a first opening;   a keycap, disposed on the bottom plate, and comprising a visible region corresponding to the first opening;   a flexible component, disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap, and comprising a second opening corresponding to the visible region;   a support structure, connected between the bottom plate and the flexible component, and comprising a third opening corresponding to the visible region;   a circuit layer, disposed between the bottom plate and the flexible component, and comprising a fourth opening corresponding to the visible region; and   a pattern modulator, disposed below the bottom plate, and comprising a pattern region corresponding to the visible region.   
     
     
         2 . The key module according to  claim 1 , wherein the pattern modulator comprises:
 an electronic paper component, comprising the pattern region corresponding to the visible region; and   a backlight component, disposed on one side of the electronic paper component, so that light emitted by the backlight component illuminates the pattern region.   
     
     
         3 . The key module according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuit layer comprises at least one trigger switch region corresponding to at least one pressing portion of the flexible component, and the at least one trigger switch region and the at least one pressing portion are located outside the pattern region. 
     
     
         4 . The key module according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one trigger switch region comprises a plurality of trigger switch regions symmetrically disposed beside the fourth opening, and the at least one pressing portion comprises a plurality of pressing portions symmetrically disposed beside the second opening. 
     
     
         5 . The key module according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pressing portions are disposed at four corners of the second opening. 
     
     
         6 . The key module according to  claim 1 , wherein a light emitting component and a light receiving component facing each other are disposed on the circuit layer, a blocking portion linked with the keycap is movably inserted between the light emitting component and the light receiving component, and the light emitting component, the light receiving component, and the blocking portion are located outside the pattern region. 
     
     
         7 . The key module according to  claim 6 , wherein the flexible component comprises a flexible body and a rigid member bonded to the flexible body, and the blocking portion is formed at the flexible body or the rigid member. 
     
     
         8 . The key module according to  claim 6 , wherein the blocking portion is formed at the support structure. 
     
     
         9 . The key module according to  claim 6 , wherein the blocking portion is formed at the keycap, and the blocking portion is opaque. 
     
     
         10 . The key module according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible component comprises a flexible body and a rigid member bonded to the flexible body, the support structure comprises a plurality of shafts, a part of the plurality of shafts are connected to the bottom plate, another part of the plurality of shafts are connected to the rigid member, the pattern region is rectangular and comprises a first edge and a second edge opposite to each other and a third edge and a fourth edge opposite to each other, the plurality of shafts protrude from the first edge and the second edge, and the light emitting component and the light receiving component are located at the third edge or the fourth edge. 
     
     
         11 . The key module according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible component comprises a flexible body and a rigid member bonded to the flexible body, and the keycap is attached to the flexible body or the rigid member. 
     
     
         12 . The key module according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible component comprises a flexible body and a rigid member bonded to the flexible body, the support structure comprises a first connecting member and a second connecting member connected to the first connecting member, the first connecting member and the second connecting member comprise a plurality of shafts, a part of the plurality of shafts are connected to the bottom plate, and another part of the plurality of shafts are connected to the rigid member. 
     
     
         13 . The key module according to  claim 12 , wherein the pattern region is rectangular and comprises a first edge and a second edge opposite to each other and a third edge and a fourth edge opposite to each other, the plurality of shafts protrude from the first edge and the second edge, the circuit layer comprises at least one trigger switch region, and the at least one trigger switch region corresponds to at least one of the third edge and the fourth edge. 
     
     
         14 . The key module according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate comprises a flat body and two fixing elements bent from the flat body and protruding from the flat body, and the fixing elements are respectively connected to the support structure. 
     
     
         15 . The key module according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate comprises a flat body and two fixing elements, the flat body comprises two opening grooves, parts of the two fixing elements are respectively disposed in the two opening grooves and engaged with the flat body, one of the two fixing elements comprises a slot and a stopping portion, one of the plurality of shafts is connected to the slot, the other one of the two fixing elements comprises two opposite bosses, the two bosses each have an inclined guide surface and form a circular slot, and another one of the plurality of shafts is connected to the circular slot. 
     
     
         16 . The key module according to  claim 15 , wherein the bottom plate comprises a protrusion located beside one of the two opening grooves and protruding from the flat body, the protrusion and the flat body form the corresponding opening groove, and the fixing element wraps the corresponding protrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The key module according to  claim 16 , wherein the protrusion has a hole, and the fixing element is filled in the hole. 
     
     
         18 . The key module according to  claim 16 , wherein the protrusion has two bent portions, each of the two bent portions partially extends in a direction away from the flat body, and the fixing element wraps the two bent portions. 
     
     
         19 . A keyboard, comprising:
 a bottom plate,   a first key module, comprising:
 a first keycap disposed on the bottom plate, and comprising a visible region corresponding to a first opening of the bottom plate; 
 a first flexible component disposed between the bottom plate and the first keycap, and comprising a second opening corresponding to the visible region; 
 a first support structure disposed between the bottom plate and the first keycap, and comprising a third opening corresponding to the visible region; and 
 a pattern modulator disposed below the bottom plate, and comprising a pattern region corresponding to the visible region; and 
   a second key module, comprising:
 a second keycap disposed on the bottom plate, and comprising a pattern. 
   
     
     
         20 . The keyboard according to  claim 19 , wherein the second key module further comprises:
 a second flexible component disposed between the bottom plate and the second keycap; and   a second support structure disposed between the bottom plate and the second keycap, wherein the second flexible component is disposed in an aperture of the second support structure.   
     
     
         21 . The keyboard according to  claim 20 , wherein the first support structure is connected between the bottom plate and the first flexible component, and the second support structure is connected between the bottom plate and the second keycap. 
     
     
         22 . The keyboard according to  claim 20 , wherein a size of the third opening of the first support structure is larger than a size of the aperture of the second support structure.